Duterte signs EO institutionalizing 911 as new emergency no

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech during the inauguration of the 420-MW Pagbilao Unit 3 Power Project in Pagbilao, Quezon on May 31, 2018, urges power companies to make innovations in finding reliable, inexpensive and clean ways to produce energy. Also in the photo are Sec. Bong Go of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President, Jera Co. Inc. Chief Power Development Officer Toshiro Kudama, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Aboitiz Equity Adventures Chief Operating Officer Sabin Aboitiz and Marubeni Corp. Senior Executive Officer for Power Projects and Plant Group Yasuo Hirotha. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

The President issued Executive Order (EO) No. 56 institutionalizing the emergency 911 hotline as the nationwide emergency answering point.

Signed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on May 25, Friday, this EO replaces the current patrol 117 hotline. The EO states that this is to conform with international standards on emergency numbers for public telecommunication networks.

It also stated that there is a “need to improve public safety services and existing peace and order and public safety mechanisms by providing a clear command structure for responsibility and accessibility, and by encouraging and facilitating the prompt deployment of a seamless nationwide communication infrastructure for emergency services.”

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) managed to secure “911” for the government’s use through Memorandum Order No. 08-08-2016, dated on July 20, 2016.

This new emergency hotline shall be free of charge and other fees.

The roles of being the primary responders of the service were tasked to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

BFP serves as the “lead agency in conducting fire suppression operations and providing the public with emergency medical services, hazardous materials protection, and technical search and rescue services.”

While the PNP is the “lead agency in providing police assistance in relation to public safety and crime prevention.”

EO 56 also mentioned the establishment of the National Call Center and that it “shall be with the participation of existing private communication carriers and telecommunications companies.”

“All private communication carriers and telecommunications companies shall ensure and provide uninterrupted connectivity and integration of all calls made by their subscribers to the Emergency 911 hotline,” it added.

Replacing 117 would also replace the Patrol 117 Commission created under EO No. 226 and AO No. 36.

The Emergency 911 Commission shall serve as the policy-making body and overseer of the Emergency 911 National Program.

It shall be composed of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary as the Chairperson, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary as the Vice Chairperson and representatives from the Office of the President, Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of National Defense (DND), Department f Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), PNP, NTC, BFP, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).